Apple TV Remote Stopped Working?

Has your Siri Remote turned into a stylish brick? Don't buy a new one until you try these quick fixes. In most cases, the Siri Remote that comes with your Apple TV 4K is an unobtrusive accessory for Apple's home entertainment system. It just works, as Apple likes to say. Until it doesn't.

Apple recently had to issue a tvOS update to fix a problem that made the Siri Remote unresponsive on a third-gen Apple TV 4K. Installing tvOS 16.3.3 should clear up this particular bug, but if you've ever have an issue with your Apple TV remote connecting to the box, there are a few things you can try to resolve the issue.

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1. Restart Your Apple TV Remote

We'll assume you've already checked that the remote is fully charged. With that out of the way, the first thing you should do is the tried-and-true method of turning it off and then on again. To perform a restart, hold the TV/Control Center button and the Volume Down button for five seconds. The light on the Apple TV box should turn off and back on again, and the remote should reconnect in about 10 seconds.

2. Re-Pair Your Apple TV Remote

If restarting the remote doesn’t work, try to re-pair it. Hold the remote about 3 inches away from your Apple TV box. Hold down the Back and Volume Up buttons for five seconds (Menu and Volume Up on older models). You may then be asked to place the remote on top of the Apple TV box to complete the pairing process.

3. Restart Your Apple TV

If pairing or restarting the remote has not resolved the remote's connection issue, there is one other thing to try. Simply unplugging the Apple TV and then plugging it back in may fix the issue. You can also avoid having to physically unplug the device if you can manage to open Settings > System and select Restart on your Apple TV.

4. Set Up the Apple TV Remote App

If your physical remote has stopped working, you can get around the problem by enlisting your iPhone or iPad for a software version of your Apple TV remote. This may not be an ideal solution, but it can be handy in a pinch.

As of iOS 16, the Apple TV Remote app should automatically be included in Control Center. Pull down from the top-right side of the screen to open Control Center and select the Remote app to connect your phone with the Apple TV.

If you don’t see the remote control icon in Control Center, add it from Settings > Control Center on your mobile device. Select Customize Controls, then tap the plus (+) icon next to Apple TV Remote. Or drag the remote icon around to make it more accessible in Control Center.

Credit: pcmag.com

Executive Board Minutes

Computer Technology Club, Inc.
Executive Board Minutes
May 12, 2023

Alan Marcus, President, called the meeting to order at 9:00AM. Members in attendance: Jim Trimboli, Bob Kenlay, Linda Tingley, Don Forgette, Mike Metelits, Bill Balch, Bob Roesener, Bob Leiner, and Alan Marcus.

The Secretary’s report was read by Bob Kenlay. No corrections or additions necessary.

Jim Trimboli then read the current Treasurer's report. The current balance is $1322.85.

Future meeting topics:

May 17 - Internet alternatives for Oak Run? Internet Service Providers

Jun 21 - Internet alternatives for Oak Run? ISPs (continued)

Jul 19 - Internet Hacking by Bob Roesener

Jim Trimboli will check with the Bike shop to make a presentation on electric bikes.

Linda Tingley asked if we can check into medical alert systems. Alan Marcus will follow up.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30AM.

Respectfully submitted,
Bob Kenlay, Secretary

2023 ISP Survey Responses:

Survey results in PDF format;

Spreadsheet, HERE        Pie Charts, HERE

iPhone Battery Health And When To Replace

Starting in March, 2023, Apple raised prices for iPhone battery replacements. Whether you’re just curious how your battery health is holding up or you’re having issues with battery life or unexpected shutdowns, it’s easy to check the status in iOS Settings.

The iPhone 14 lineup launched with a higher cost for out-of-warranty battery replacements of $99. However, the change as of March 1 saw Apple bump battery replacements for all of its older iPhone models by $20. That pushed iPhone 13 through iPhone X up to $89 and iPhone SE, iPhone 8 and earlier to $69.

If you upgrade your iPhone every year or two, you hopefully shouldn’t have an issue with a degraded battery, unless you end up with a defective one. But for those who have iPhones that are two years old or older, low battery health ends up being an inevitability at some point due to chemical aging along with how many charge cycles they’ve gone through.

How to see iPhone battery health

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone
2. Swipe down and tap Battery
3. Now choose Battery Health & Charging
4. Your current battery capacity is shown at the top

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When should you replace an iPhone battery?

When your battery has dropped below 80% of its original capacity you may want to consider a replacement. Same if you see a warning about your battery being degraded or if it won’t hold a charge.

Under the “Battery Health & Charging” section shown above, you should see a warning if your battery health is degraded and if it’s causing issues like unexpected shutdowns and/or unable to sustain peak performance.

Apple says iPhone batteries are “designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles when operating under normal conditions.”

If you’re in the US, replacements are covered under the one-year included warranty or with AppleCare. However, if you’re out of warranty coverage, Apple charges a $69-99 fee for the iPhone battery replacement service.

When an iPhone battery drops below 80% of its original capacity, a feature called “performance management” may be automatically applied. This works to help prevent unexpected shutdowns.

However, it is possible to turn the performance throttling off. Looks for the small “Disable” button at the end of the text below “Peak Performance Capability.”

If you see a message that says battery health degraded or unknown, head to an Apple Store, reach out to Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider if you want to get a certified Apple battery replacement.

Credit: 9to5mac.com